Motor driven well drilling apparatus



' Oct. 4, 1932.

R. P. SIMMONS MOTOR DRIVEN WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 22, 1929 31%ard F 3 Sheets-Sheet l INYENTOR Sir/imam" ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1932.

i R. P. SIMMONS MOTOR DRIVEN WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 22, 1929' 3Sheets-Sheet 2 m MAW llffiiiffl I INVENTOR .Zflffiardf? Jm'zmr m ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 22

w WW i P iiaig "/WII Patented Oct. 4, 1932 RICHARD P. SIMMONS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MOTOR DRIVEN WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Application filed October 22, 1929. Serial No. 401,445.

This invention relates to improvements in means for supporting a motor in a well to drive various units, such as pump, rotary drill, or other equipment,'in the well casing,

and its leading object is to provide a well casing having a section with which the housing of the motor head or drive may be interlocked against relative rotative movement, but in such manner that the housing and its equipment may be withdrawn from the well casing, leaving thelatter disposed in the well to prevent caving of the ground, and to avoid the expense and loss of time involved in the successive withdrawal of the well casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved driving means between the motor and the units which are con led therewith, constructed to permit the ow of air and oil through ducts disposed in a rotary member and in constant communication with passages opening through a sealed housing,

the whole being constructed to permit of the coupling to the rotary member of any other unit required to be operated in the well below the motor head, and also to permit continuous flow of the air and oil through the joint between the coupled head and operated unit.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter specifically pointed out, or will become apparent, as the specification proceeds.

With the above indicated objects in view, the invention resides in certan novel constructions and combinations and arrangement of 5 parts, clearly described in the following specification and fully illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, which latter show an embodiment of the invention as at present preferred.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the slidably coupled well casing and motor head housing, showing the vertical order of 5 the driving units.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the motor head housing removed.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, broken-away, of the interlocking section of the well casing.

Fig. 4'i's a. transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the directlon of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken or soft material core barrel instea of a .rock

barrel unit. v

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the under reamer unit omitted.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in detail, 10 designates the lower section of the well casing, to which additional sections are coupled, by screw threaded joints.

The lower casing section 10 is formed with internal longitudinal keys 12 and internal longitudinal keyways 13, which are radially spaced from each other. The keys 13 are formed with transverse grooves 14. The upper end portions of the keys 13 are formed with tapered ends 13a '50 that they will deflect any object engaging the same and force it to one'side thereof. 1

In the well casing section 10 the housing 15 of the motor head is slidably cou led, and for this purpose the cylinder 16 w ich forms the body of the housing is formedjwith integral longitudinal keys 17 adapted to have slidable interlocking engagement with keyways 12 and longitudinal keys 13 of the Well casing section 10. The lower end portions of the keys 17 are tapered at 17a to readily pass the taperedends of the keys 12, and these keys 17 are radially separated from each other by means of the longitudinal keyways 18.

This sliding interlocking connection between the housing and the well casin permits the motor head housing to be with rawn at any time, but prevents the housing from rotating in the well casing, though the well casing itself may be turned.

In the cylinder 16, the electrical motor 19 is mounted upon the shelf ring 20, which is detachably connected with the wall of the cylinder by means of the screws 21. Between the base of the motor and the ring the up. per horizontal'flange22 of thetubular supporting member 23 is positioned, the lower end plate 19a of the motor frame projecting into this supporting member. I

The upper end plate 19?) of the motor frame is engaged by the clamping and retaining ring 24, which is detachably secured to the cylinder 16 by means of the screws 25.

Theshaft 26 of the motor extends downwardly and is connected by the shaft coupling member 27 with the shaft 280, of a- F oote transmission gearing 28, enclosed by the housing 29 carried by the lower end of the tubular support 23. This-transmission is well known and is of the planetary type, embracing the pinion gear 28?) on the shaft 28a, the planetary train of gears 280 driven from this pinion, and the driven internal gear 28d on the shaft 28c.

31, which rotates in thehousing 32.

The end plate or cap 29a of the housing 29 recess 290 of the end wall 160.0f the cylinder 16. The shaft 286 of the transmission extends through this end wall 160 and is connected by the shaft coupling 30 with the larger shaft end of the cylinder 16 and to this end wall The shaft ,31 is formed or provided with three longitudinal ducts or passages 31a, 31b and 310, which open through the lower end of the shaft 31. The upper end of the duct or passage 31a communicates with a .short horizontal branch 31a with an internal ing cylinder 32 by means of the adjustable...

- bolts 33a, and a similar packing gland 34 is secured against the lower end of the housing cylinder by means of the adjustable bolts 34a. The shaft 31 is provided with an integral collar 31' which bears against thecircular shelf 35, which is detachably connected by the bolts 35a to the lower end of the cylinder 16. The upper end of the housing cylinder 32 is secured to the cyl nder 16 by means of the spacing ring 36, the inner end of. which is bolted to thehousing cylinder 32 and the outer end of which is bolted to the cylinder 16.

An air or oil conduit 37 is connected with the circular groove 32a by the nipple 37 a and this extends upwardly and is coupled to the pipe 376. An air or other conduit 38 is connected by the nipple 38a to the groove 32?) and The housing 32 with its air' connectionsnever rotates in the cylinder 16, the transfer of the air' or other fluids from the flexible conduits to the ducts or passages of the rotary shaft 31 taking place through the circular grooves in the cylinder housing 32.

The lower end of the shaft 31 carries a nipple 31) which surrounds the duct 31a; a second nipple 31g, which surrounds the duct 31b; and a third nipple 31h, which surrounds the duct 310. To these nipples flexible conduits, not shown, of any equipment to be used" below the motorhead unit, whether a pump or a battery of pumps, rotary or percussive drilling means, core collecting and removing means, under reaming means, or otherwise, are connected. The lower end of the shaft 31 carries a detachable coupling head 40, which has a snug sliding fit in the lower end of the casing section 10, and is provided with a tapered internal or female screw thread 40. The upper circular edge portion of the coupling head 40 is sealed against circular shelf 35 by means of the dirt guard 35?). An'end wall 41 is threaded in the upper the hoisting and lowering cable 42 is coupled through a central opening in said end wall. The electrical wires for controlling the cireuit through the motor are carried by the conduit 43 which extends through the end wall 41 to the motor housing.

The cylinder 16 is formed with a series of I radially spaced openings 16 to'provide access to the connections immediately above the motor, and with another series of radially space openings 169 to provide access 'to the housing 32 and the connections associated therewith.

When the motor drive is coupled to a pumping unit, or similar well operating apparatus, by means'of the coupling head 40,

the drive of the motor will tend to turn the Y casing 16 within the well casing 10, but this tendency of relative rotative movement will be resisted and prevented by the longitudi-. nal-splines or keys and keyways between the well casing and the housing 15, of which the cylinder 16. forms thebodythereof.

This interlocking connection .between the housing for the motor head also provides means for supporting the pumping units upon and within the well casing, so that loss of,such equipment is completely prevented, and prompt withdrawal of themotor head and any equipment coupled therewith may be accomplished 'without calling for-the suc-' cessive withdrawal of thefwell casing, which remains in place to support the earth against collapse.

T) once, will be indicated unit A, the under reamor unit B, and the core barrel unit C, for trapping and conveying rock .cores. The under reamer unit B is coupled to the motor head unit A, by means of the coupling union A, which engages theinternal thread A and the core barrel unit is coupled to the unit B, by means of the coupling union 13*. The under reamer unit is equipped with expansible and contractible reamer tools B, which are moved to the two positions, outwardly to trim the wall of the well bore and inwardly to occupy a position within the vertical plane of the housing of the unit B. The core barrel unit C is provided with movable core trapping means 0?, operated by mechanical elements, which include a cam C", and a tubular wall section C vertically shiftable within the housing of the barrel of the unit C, so that the lever trapping means or device C5 will be moved against the cam (l and forced into the slot C of the barrel or tubular wall section C to pinch the rock-core and hold the same against sliding in the core barrel'unit.

In Fig. 8 the series combinations consist of the motor head unit A, the..under reamer unit B, and the core barrel unit CC, which is designed to trap soft excavated materials. This core barrel unit CC is provided with an earth holding compartment C in which earth is trapped by means of the flexible fingers G, which are shifted across the chamber C by means of a pneumatic or. other type of piston enclosed-by the housing of said unit. This unit is connected to the under reamer unit by means of the coupling union 'B. y

In Fig. 9 the series combination consists of the motor head unit A and the core barrel unit CC, the latter being connected directly to the former by means of the coupling union A".

In each of these ,three combinations of different units'a drilling and earth retaining that earth detached from the wall of the well bore will be retained in this compartment, by the action of the reamer tools, which engage the wall of the well bore at slight angles from the vertical.

The core barrel unit in each of the three combinations is equipped with drill tools car-- ried by the lower end thereof, which are designed to be rotated against the rock or earthby the action of the motor driven connection with the coupling union A, and the rotary shaft head A", thereof, which is driven directly by the electrical motor enclosed by said barrel unit.

After the core barrel has been filled the series unit combination is removed from the well, leaving the well casing in place, and the core barrel emptied and returned to place. As the earth or rock is excavated below the well cas ng thereamer will trim the wall of the well bore, thus cutting a circular plane through which the well casing may be continually lowered, without being deflected to an inclined plane, and without crowding the well casing.

The progressive withdrawal of the earth and rock in the condition it is found, results in the-formation ofa well having a bore wall of natural stability, which is not disturbed by the packing operation which is usually resorted to in the'drillng of wells.

The hereinbefore described construction admits of considerable modification without departing from the invention; therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the precise arrangements shownand described, which are, as aforesaid, by way of illustration merely. In other words, the scope of protection contemplated is to be taken solely from the ap pendedclaims, interpreted as broadly as is consistent with the prior art.

I claim asnew 1 In combination, a well casing having an internal key extending longitudinally thereof, a housing having an external keyway to receive the key, said casing being adapted to support said housing therein against downward movement by the inter- 1 king action of said key with said keyway, d against relative rotative action, an electric motor secured in said housing, a reduc tion gearing coupled to the shaft of the electric motor, and a wiping joint coupled to the reduction gearing, and providing means for the continuous flow of various streams of pressure fluid therethrough when the same is in rotation. I

2. The combination with a well casing of a housing slidably interlocked therewith for upward vertical movement in a withdrawal direction and against downward vertical movement below the well casingand also against relative rotative movement, a cou pling union in the lower end of the casing and comprising relatively movable parts conpermit of vertical sliding movement in an upward direction only, a shaft journaled for rotation in said housing and provided with a plurality of air passages therein, a housing for said shaft having ports adapted to have constant communication with the air passages of the shaft,a reduction gear coupled to said shaft, and a coupling union coupled to said shaft whereby a well apparatus may be connected to said shaft and operated thereby.

4. The combination with a well casing of a housing having interlocking connection in the casing against downward movement andagainst relative rotative movement, a shaft journaled in the housing and provided with a series of longitudinal passages therein, a casing enclosing said shaft and secured in said housing and provided with a plurality of separated internal circular passages, the shaft having lateral passages in communication with the internal casing passages and with the longitudinal passages of said shaft, means for coupling a! well drilling unit directly to said shaft below said housing to permit compressed air to be passed through said shaft to said drilling unit, and a redlucion gear coupled to the upper end of the s 1a t.

5. The combination with a well casing having internal interlocking elements therein, of a housing having external interlocking elements, said housing having an end wall se' cured to the lower end thereof, a shaft journaled in said end wall and provided with longitudinal passages, means for supplying compressed air to said passages while the shaft is rotating, and means for coupling a well drilling unit to said shaft to be rotated thereby and be supplied with compressed air through said shaft and coupling-means.

6. The combination with a well casing having internal interlocking means, of-a housing coupled thereto against relative rotative movement and to permit of relative vertical movement in an upward direction only, means for coupling a drilling unit to said housing to rotate thereunder, means for rotating -said coupling means, and means for supplying compressed air to said drilling unit through said coupling means.

7; The combination with a housing of a shaft journaled therein for rotative movement, a coupling union comprising relatively movable elements of which one is mountedon the lower end of the shaft to rotate against the lower end of the housing and the other fixed in the housing, means for ro- .to maintain a stream of air iaving corresponding external locking means tating the shaft, and means for supplying compressed air to a drilling unit coupled to said union, the elements thereof having registering'air ducts.

8 Theicombination with a housing of a 'shaft j ournaled therein for rotary movement,

cured to the housing, the shaft and the cas-' ing having a plurality of independent passages for compressed air, means for coupling a drilling head; to said shaft to rotate under said housing and to receive compressed air from said passages, and means for rotating the shaft carried by the housing.

10. The combination with a housing having a shaft journaled to rotate therein, a

casing for the shaft secured to the housing, the shaft and the casing having means for supplying independent streams of com pressed air to the lower end of the shaft, means for coupling a drilling head to said lower shaft end to receive compressed air through said independent passages, means for supplying compressed air to the casing moving through the coupling means.

11 The combination with a well casing of a housing supported thereby against extreme downward movement in the casing, a shaft rotating in'the housing, a core barrel unit coupled to the shaft and provided with air operated earth trapping means for retaining earthforced into said core barrel, and means for conducting compressed air through said shaft to said core barrel when said shaft is being rotated in said housing. g 12. The combination with a' well casing of a housing supported thereby, a shaft rotating in the housing, an under reamer unit coupled to the shaft, expansible and retract ible tools carried by the under reamer, means for operating said tools, a core barrel coupled to said under re'amer, means for trapping earth forced'into said core barrel, means for operating the earth trapping means, and means for conducting compressed air to the under reamer and the core barrel through said shaft when the same is rotating.

13. In combination, a well casing structure,

a housing structure, one of said structure hav- 1 support said housing therein against down ward movement by the interlocking action of said key with said keyway, and against relative rotative action, an electric motor secured in said housing, a reduction gearing coupled to the shaft of the electric motor, and a wiping joint coupled to the reduction gearing, and providing means for the continuous flow of various streams of pressure fluid therethrough when the same is in rotation.

14. In combination, a well casing, a housing supported e in said casing and locked against angular movement with respect thereto but limited in axial movement to the lower end of the casing, a driving motor mounted in said housing, a core barrel coupled to said motor, the core barrel being of relatively great length and hollow and cross-sectionally :onforming to and of a'size corresponding to the housing, the core barrel drilling in advance of the casing and collecting interiorally the material removed by drilling, and an un- :ler reamer interposed between the core barrel and the housing and driven by said motor and enlarging to the size of said casing the hole formed by said core barrel.

15. In combination, a well casing, a housing supported in said casing and locked against angular movement with respect thereto but limited in axial movement to the lower end of the casing. a driving motor mounted in said housing. a core barrel coupled to said motor. the core barrel being of relatively great length and hollow and cross-sectionally conforming to and of a size corresponding to the housing. the core barrel drilling in advance of the casing and collecting interiorall the material removed by drilling. and an under reamer interposed between the core barrel and the housing and driven by said motor and enlarging to the \size of said casing the hole formed by said core barrel, the under reamer comprising cutting elements retractable within the periphery of the core barrel upon elevation of the housing through the well casing.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature.

RICHARD P? srnnoxs. 

